The gravel is usually left exposed on the floor surface, but you can cover it with a metal or plastic grid if you choose. Pros: A French drain is extremely beneficial to collect excess groundwater and ...

The HOC bought Tobytown in in 1972, replacing the old wooden structures with modern townhouses that included indoor plumbing. Before that residents shared one well and used outhouses.

The theme, “The Power of Place,” permeated the Fairfax County History Commission’s 20th annual conference on Nov. 2, including the power of places long gone.